Body-Weight Changes and Physical Activity After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) recovery can involve weight gain and reduced physical activity (PA), posing long-term health risks.
• Understanding PA patterns post-ACLR is crucial for effective rehabilitation and health outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between physical activity (PA) patterns and weight changes within six months following ACLR.
• To determine if lower PA levels and increased sedentary time predict weight gain after ACLR.

Main Methods:

• A case series study involving 61 participants (13-35 years) who underwent primary ACLR.
• Weight was measured preoperatively and at two phases post-surgery (early and midphase).
• Physical activity levels (daily steps, moderate-to-vigorous PA, sedentary behavior) were assessed using accelerometry; logistic regressions analyzed predictors of weight gain (≥5%).

Main Results:

• Males gained significantly more weight (3.4 ± 4.6 kg) than females (1.1 ± 2.9 kg) within six months post-ACLR.
• While PA and sedentary behavior did not directly predict weight gain, logistic regression models indicated associations between PA/sedentary behavior metrics and achieving ≥5% weight gain at both early and mid-phases.
• Males exhibited substantially higher odds (5.407 to 10.025 times) of experiencing ≥5% weight gain compared to females.

Conclusions:

• Weight gain is a common occurrence approximately six months after ACLR, with males showing greater increases than females.
• Physical activity and sedentary behavior levels were not found to be predictive of weight changes in this cohort.
• Integrating targeted weight management strategies, including nutritional and metabolic interventions, into ACLR rehabilitation protocols is recommended to optimize patient recovery.